Finding innovative suicide prevention solutions at the heart of Pasifika communities

For more than ten years, Le Va’s Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund has supported community groups to find their own innovative solutions to preventing suicide.

Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund recipents: New Zealand Rugby League

This year, following a robust application and evaluation process, Le Va has distributed nearly $900,000 across 11 community groups who will develop and deliver their initiatives through to the end of October 2025.

Funded by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, the fund aims to support Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide by enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors associated with suicide.

Although the provisional suicide rate for Pacific people showed a significant reduction in 2023, still too many Pasifika families are affected by the loss of a loved one from suicide.

The Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund prioritises groups who are known to be at higher risk of suicidal distress, including men, youth, Rainbow and rural communities, and people who have lived experience of suicidal behaviour.

Leilani Clarke, Le Va’s senior manager for Pacific suicide prevention, said, “Every year we receive an extremely high calibre of applications from our Pasifika communities, and this year was no exception.

“Grassroots local initiatives like these play such an important role in helping families, whānau and communities to build resilience and work collectively to reduce the risk of suicide.”

Congratulations to our 2024 Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund recipients:

• Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust
• Moana Vā
• New Zealand Rugby League
• ONE NZ Warriors
• Outline Aotearoa
• PHAB Pasifika
• Potplants Studios
• Sisters United
• Tongan Society South Canterbury
• Without Limits Learning
• Zeal